Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 7 · Ezekiel · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
THƲS saith the Lord to the mountains and hills, to the rivers and valleys, &c. V. 3. Calvin.Calvin, because Israel is here named, will have this Prophesie understood to be against the 10 tribes long before carryed away by the Assyrians: and whereas this seemeth not to agree; forsomuch as a Prophesie is not of things past, but to come, he saith, that it may be taken as Doctrinall, or understood, as being against those of the ten tribes, that still remained in the land, and went on in the same sins. But all these are mere imaginations, for Judah is by this Prophet before commonly called Israel; as chap. 2. & 3. by a general name of all the tribes, because many of other tribes were mingled with Judah. And it is plainly said, that he was bidden to prophesie against the mountains of Israel, so that it must needs be understood of things to come: And lastly, it is said, that all Israel was carryed away captive by Salmanasar, and not that 2 King. 17.any were left, as afterwards it is said of Judah, that the poor of the land were left to till the ground. Leaving this therefore, Lyra saith, that Ezekiel having ch. 4, 5. spoken against Jerusalem, now he cometh to prophesie against Lyra.other parts of the Kingdome of Judah, and he directeth his Prophesie, not to the men, but to the mountains, hills, valleys, and rivers, to intimate the stupidity and unworthinesse of the Jews the more, who were passed by for this, as more dull of hearing then the earth it self, that hath no ears; so Esay 1. 1. he speaks to the heavens and the earth, and the Prophet in Ieroboams 1 King. 13.time to the Altar, and Ieremy to the earth against Iechoniah. And the high Jer. 22.places also and valleys, where the water ran, are spoken to in speciall, because there the Jews set up Altars, and planted Groves, and committed the great abominations of Idolatry, upon the mountains, because they thought that so they were neerer the gods; in valleys, which were more pleasant for rivers and trees being neer, because they thought that the gods were taken with the pleasure of such places. But here destruction by the sword is threatned unto them, not for that the sword can hurt a mountain, but because by the enemy the superstitious Altars and Images set up there, should be broken down, and the men that worshipped there, slain, and their carcasses should there lie and rot, when at the coming of the Caldees all places should bee rifled, and the people there slain, none escaping the violence of that tempest.
Here some comfort is yet spoken to some, there should be a remnant escaping, V. 8.which should come home to the Lord by repentance, even in the countreys, whither they should be scattered, as is also before promised, Esay 1. 9, &c.
They that are far off shall dye by the pestilence. Here more particularly both V. 12.the severall judgments whereby they should perish, is set forth, and the places where, by the Pestilence, those that were gone into captivity afar off, by the sword those that were neer about Ierusalem, as they should fall into their enemies hands, and they that were besieged in the City by the famin; whereby it is most manifest, that this is spoken in reference to chap. 5. and to the famin, to the Jews, and not to the ten tribes there threatned.
Yea, more desolate then the wildernesse about Diblath: Vulg. desolate from the V. 14.wildernesse of Diblatha; so likewise Hebr. but Calvin following the former Calvin.reading, giveth this for the sense, More desolate then the wildernesse Diblatha near Damascus in Syria, through which the Jews were lead when they were carryed away captive, for that was a fruitfull place; and he hereby sheweth what a corrosive it would be unto them to see it as they passed through, recounting the desolation of their own countrey. But it is nothing probable that the Prophet to set forth the desolation of their land the more, would do it by comparing it with another place more fertile; and therefore I rather subscribe to Ierome, who saith, that it is here set forth how far the desolation Hieron.of their land should extend, viz. from Diblath or Kiblath in the uttermost parts of Reuben to Ierusalem: For of Riblath we read 2 King. 25. 6. and R. in Hebrew is so like to D. that one might easily be changed into the other, the figure of the one being foreign, and of the other foreign.